Automatic compensator for weighing-machines



H. RICHARDSON.

AUTOMATIC COMPENSATOR FOR WEIGHING MACHINES.

APPucATloN FILED DEC.15,1917.

1,346,684. y Patented .my 13,1920.

5 SHEE'IS-SHEEI I.

(1R01 me H. RICHARDSON.

AUTOMATIC GOMPENSATOR FOR wElGHlNG MACHINES.

APPLICATON FLED DEC. l5, 1917. 1,346,684. Patented July 13, 1920.

5 SHEElS-SHEEI 2.

H. RICHARDSON. .AUTOMATIC COMPNSATGR FOR WEIGHING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILI-:D 050.113.1911.

1,346,684. Patented July 13, 1920.

5 SHEEISSHEEP 3.

Hoz ne la .APPLICATION FILED DEC. 15. 1917.

H. RICHARDSON.

AUTOMATIC COMPENSATOR FOR WEIGHING MACHINES.

Patented July 13, 1920.

5 SHEElS-SHEET 4.

H. RICHARDSON.

AUTOMATIC coMPEN'sAToR Foa WEIGHINQ MACHINES.

APPLlCATlON FlLED DIEC. l5. F917- 1.346,684. Patented my 13, 1920.

5 SHEEISn-SHEEI 5.

` l v u Clrtczmzl,

i UNITED sTArEs PATENT oFFicE.

HENnY nICHARiisoi/v, 0F rAssAIo, NEW JERSEY-I,

Application led December 15, 191.7'. i Serial No. 207,314.

To all whom t may concern; f

Be it knownthat I, HENRY RIoHAR'DsoN, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Passaic, in the county of Passaic and State of New Jersey,-have invented certain new and useful'Improvements in Automatic Compensators for Veighing-Machines, of which the following is a specification. l

Thepresent invention relates to improvements in weighing machines, and more especially'toV those of the type wherein the supply of material to the weigh hopper is controlled automatically by the descent ofthe weigh hopper' under the influenceof the material introduced therein, and the primary object of the .invention is to provide for machines of this class means for compensating for the weight of the suspended column of material in the actv of falling into the weigh hopper at the moment the weigh hopper comes to a poise, such compensation being effected accurately. and without requiring special adjustments, although materialshaving different specific gravities are'weighed bythe machine. T he present invention is a further development of and an improvement uponA Lthe invention shown, described and claimed in my prior patent, No. 1,006,879, granted October 24, 1911.

Another object of the invention is to provide a relatively simple, `easily-and accurately adjustable and efficient device for delaying or retarding the closing' movement of the supply valve from` full flow to dribble stream position, thus prolonging the period of the full flow or loadingV stream, in consequence of which the speedof operation of the weighing machine maybe maintained relatively high without the disadvantage of employing an unduly large dribble stream.

VTo these and other ends, the invention con-- sists in certain improvements, and combinations and arrangements of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out particularlyin the claims at the end of the specification..

In the accompanying,drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation, with part of the frame removed, ofan automatic weighing machine embodying a compensator coni 'structed in accordancewith the present invention."

Fig. 2 Vis a detail view ofthe compensator Specification of Letters Patent.

AUTOMATIC coMrENsAToR Fort Warszawa-MACHINES.

Patented July 13,1920,

in' conjunction with the -Weigh hopper and mam weighy beam, the supply hopper, and the cut-olf valve or shutter therefor.l

Figs. 3, l and are diagrammatic views showing the relative positions of the compensator, the supply valve or shutter, and

-the` weigh hopper when the supply valve or shutter occupies respectivelyits full flow, dribble and closed positions. y

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of thecompensator.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the upper portion of, the machine showing the device for delaying ory retarding the4 movement of' the supply gate from full flow toward dribble stream position, the gate in this figure being closed'.

Figs. 8 and 9 are views similar to Fig. 7 showing the relative position ofthe parts Y when the supply gate is in its full open position and is approaching its dribble flow position, respectively.

Fig. 10 represents a top plan of the cooperative members ofy the compensator, showing diagrammaticallv how the rate of overliow of material at the rsides thereof varies in proportion to the size of the stream of Amaterial falling thereon.

vF 11 is a detail view showing the adjustable stop for tripping the feed gate trigger.

Similar parts are designated vby the same reference characters in the several views.

Automatic compensating means embodying the present invention isl applicable, generally, to weighing machines of the type wherein the supply of materialto the weigh hopper is controlled and cut off automatically when the weigh hopper comes to a poise. It is shown in the present instance as applied vto an automatic weighing machine of the type shown and described Agenerally in my prior patent, No. 7 60,485, granted May 24, 1904, but it is to be understood` that the invention is not restricted in its application to machines of that particular class. Also, the preferred embodiment of the compensator is shown in the accompanying drawings and will be hereinafter described in detail, but it is to be understood that equivalent constructions are contemplated and will be included within the scope of the claims.

In lthe present instance, 1 designates a part of the stationary main frame of the machine, 2' designates the feed or Asupply hopper which is mounted or supported. on the main frame, 3 the weigh hopper, il one side of the main weigh beam, and 5 the counterweight, the weigh hopper being suspended at each side thereof from a knife edge 6 on one end of the weigh beam through the medium of a link 7 and the counterweight being suspended at each side thereof from a knife edge S on the respective side of the main weigh beam 11. Each side of the .main weigh beam is supported lon the main frame by a knife edge 9 which rests in a. bearing 10 formed in a bracket 11, the latter being l'ixed to the main frame. As is usual in machines of this class, the counterweight is adjusted to balance the wei ght of the weigh hopper and the weighed charge of the material therein. The material to be weighed is supplied to the machine usually from a chute 12 and the weighed charges of material may be discharged from the bottom of the weigh hopper 3 by a suitable discharge gate or door and controlling mechanism such, for example, as that shown and described in my prior patent, No. 760,485.

rfhe feed or supply hopper 2 has an opening 13 in the bottom thereof through which the material is adapted to flow and to fall in a column into the weigh hopper during the making up of a load therein. rllhe edges of the opening in the supply or feed hopper are preferably surri'uu'lded by brushes 141: and the control of the flow of material from the supply or feed hopper is effected by a valve or shutter 15 which is preferably segmental in form, as shown, and is mounted to swing on a pivot 1G. rlhis valve or shutter is movable to and from a position beneath the outlet opening in the supply hopper, thus controlling the flow of material therefrom. The brushes 14 coperate with. the shutter when the latter is in closed position to cut oli.' the flow of material from the supply hopper.

In the present instance, the valve or slmtter l5 is adapted, when in its fully open position, to permit the maximum V[low of material from the supply hopper into the weigh hopper and, when in another or partially closed position, it permits a reduced flow of material from the supply hopper to the weigh hopper. For this purpose, the forward edge of the valve or shutter is formed with a recess 17 which extends partially across the width of the shutter, this recess permitting a reduced flow of material to pass tlierethrough when the shutter is in its partially closed position. rlhe valve or slmtter moves first to its fully open position to permit the bulk or major portion of the load in the weigh hopper to be made up rapidly7 by a full flow or loading stream. and when the weigh hopper with its load therein approaches a poise the supply valve or slmtter moves to its partially closed position, thereby reducing the stream of material enteringthe weigh hopper to a dribble stream whichA passes only through the recess 17, and this continues until the weigh hopper comes to a poise, whereupon the supply valve or shutter closes and completely cuts oill the supply of material to the weigh hopper. The supply valve or shutter is shown in substantially :its fully open position in Fig. 3, in which case the full flow or loading stream will pass from the supply hopper to the weigh hopper. The supply valve or shutter is shown it its partially closed position in Fig. 1 1-, in which ease the reduced or dribble stream will flow into the weigh hopper, and Fig. 5 shows the supply valve or shutter in its completely closed position, the valve or shutter moving' into this position when the weigh hopper -comes to a poise.

The mechanism for actuating the supply valve or shutter is controlled by the movements of the weigh hopper under the influence of the material flowing into the weigh hopper. The general construction and mode of operation of the shiitter-eontrolling mechanism, apart from the compensating means of the present invention, is similar in the present instance to that shown and described in my prior patent, No. 760,485, The shutter 15, as shown, is provided with a crank arm 18 which carries a counter-weight 19 which acts to open the shutter, and a pendant 2() is pivotally connected to the fulcrum 21 of the crank arm 18 and has its lower end pivota-lly connected at 22 to a link 225, the latter being pi votal ly attached at Q-l to a part of the main frame. The main weigh beam --i: has a.projection .5 thereon which is located. beneath and in alinement with the lower end of the pendant whereby upward movement of the weigh hopper end of the weigh beam (which occurs when the load is discharged from the weigh hopper) will cause upward movement of the pendant and consequent opening of the supply valve or slmtter, and the resting of the pendant on the projection 25 will cause the suppl y valve or shutter to remain i n open position until after the weigh hopper end of the weigh beam has descended below a predetermined point. The inal closing movement of the Isupply valve or shutter and the subsequent re-opening thereof are controlled by toggle linkage conunising, in the present instance, a pair of links 2G and 2T which are pivotally connected at 2S, the link 2G being pivotaliy attached to the main frame of the machine at 29 and the link 27 having a longitudinal slot 3() to receive a pin 31 :fixed to the supply valve or slmtter 15. A pendant link 3Q hangs from the middle pivot 28 of the toggle linkage, it having near its upper end a roller 33 and it is piyotallyconnected at 3s to a lever 35, the latter being pivoted to the main frame at 36 and provided with -a vertically movable operating portion 37. A trigger 33 controls the descent of the pendant link 32, this trigger being pivotally mounted on the main frame at 39 and providedA with a roller or projection 40 which is arranged to cooperate with the roller 33 of the pendant link 32, and a counterweight 41 on the trigger acts to reta-in the roller 40 on a dead center with the roller 33. A tripping arm 42 projects from the trigger and is 1nr I ample, if the weighing is heavy, this distance must be reduced, and if the weighing is light this distance shouldV be increased, it being understood that this distance represents the travel of the weigh hopper after receiving its charge to equipoise position. 1 The operationV of the shutter-controlling linkage as described is, briefly, as follows When the links 26 and 427 are in alinement, a-s in Fig. l, thelshutter is locked in closed position. This is the case when the weigh hopper has come to a' poise with the weighed charge of material therein.V Vhen the weighedy charge of material is dumped or discharged from the weigh hopper,fthe operating. end 37 of the lever 35 is lowered, thereby causing upward movement of thel pendant link 32 which lifts and breaks the locking effect of the toggle links, andthe dumping or dischargeof the load of material from the weigh hopper also causes the counterweight 5 to elevate the weigh hopper. Therisingof the weigh hopper end of the main weigh beam causes the projection 25 thereon to push upwardly against the pendant `20 and the latter operates toswing the shutter into fully openposition. The flow of the full .or loading stream into the weigh hopper' is then initiated and it continues until theload of material in the weigh hopper approaches a poise, the weight of the shutter during this time acting to depress the weigh hopper-end of thev main weighfbeam through theaction of the pendant 2() resting on the projection 25. Descentof theweighhopper as' the latter approaches a poise causes partial closingr of the shutter, the stream of material entering the hopper being thereby reduced from a full flow or loading stream Vto a dribble stream. The shutter at this time issupported and held in its partially open position by the trigger 38, the roller. 40 ofv which coperatesv with the under sideof the roller 33,0f the.

pendant link 32, and this pendant link acts to hold the-toggle linkage in its raised or non-locking position. WVhen the proper load of material has been made up in the weigh hopper by the dribble stream, the weigh hopper descends farther, causing tripping of the trigger 38 and dropping of the toggle linkage which effects the final closing of the shutter. The mechanism hereinafter described in detail is generally preferred, but it is to be understood that any equivalent mechanism may be used. U

The `compensator comprising the present invention serves the function of compensatqing for the weight of the column or stream of material which is in the'act of falling into theweigh hopper at ,the` moment the weigh hopper comes to a poise. lt will be understood that, in weighing machines of thisv class, the supply of material to the weigh hopper is cut off by ,the supply valve or shutter at the moment when theY influence of the material acting to depress the weigh hopper equals the opposing action of the counterweight, but at such moment there is a columnl of material falling into the vweigh hopper which material is added to the weighed charge, thus producing an overcharge in the hopper equal substantially to the weight of material in the falling column or stream.` The present invention provides means which compensates automatically for this falling column or stream of material, and the compensating means provided operates accurately without requiring special adjustments in the weighing of ,materials of differentspecific gravities. Preferably, and as shown, the compensating means of thepresent invention comprises a pair of cooperative pivotally connected ymembers 44 andV 45 which are suspended within the weigh hopper and inthe path of theA column of material falling therein, and the influence of the fallingcolumn of material upon these members is transmitted to the main weigh beam with an increased leverage or mechanical advantage over" the influence of the weigh hopper on the mam weigh beam. Preferably, and as shown, the member 45v comprises a pair of brackets 46, each having ya bearing 47 to copera-te with a kmfeedge 48 on one end of compensating beam 49, and each bracket 46 supports a plate -53 which extends transversely within theupper portion of the weigh hopper and is fixed atv its ends' to the respective brackets 46. The member 44 is preferably of less width than the plate 53 and it comprises a pair of wings 54 and 55 which are arranged in an- Y gular relation and are rigidly connected to one another. The middle portion of the wing 54 is preferably convex on its upper side and theedges thereofare dished, as shown, while the upper side they wing 55 is preferably concave. The member 44k is,

cri

supported on the brackets -l;(' oi" the men'lber l5 by a pair or rods 56 which extend inwardly from the respective brackets 46 and are provi ded with upwardly projecting arms 50 which c perate with a pair ot pivots 5l on the wing 55. rlhe member ist :omprising the riidly connected wings 54 and is adapted to occupy alternately the positions shown in 3 and 5, its rocking niovemeuts in each direction about the pivots 5l as an axis beinglimited by the two-armed stop which is lixed to one oil1 the arms 50 and cooperates with the under side ot the wing` 55. A secondary or con'ipensating beam 1li) is used, this compensating beam 1omprising a` pair oi: rigidly connected side .members arranged toward opposite sides ot the weigh hopper, and eachy side member ot the cmimensating` beam is provided with a knit/e edge which cooperates with a, l'iearing formed in the bracket ll, the rear end olf each member ot the compensating beam having a knife edge 5f) which cooperates with a l'lexible shackle Gl) which i.'l attached to the counterweiglit. The distance between the knife edges i8 and 57 olf the compensating beam is greater than the distance between the knife edges G and 9 of the main weigh beam, and hence the influence el. the lralling column of material acting upon the members sie and 4.5 will operate to litt the counterweight with an increased leverage as compared with the Ainfluence ot' the falling column ot material acting upon the weigh hopper. Owing to the difference in the locations olf' the fuir-,ruins oit the main weigh beam and the secondary or ron'ipensating beam, there will. be a slight dillicrence in the radii of the arcs in whicli the knife edges 8 and 5f) swing, but this dili'erence is provided for by the flexible shackles (il) which connect the compensating beam to the counterweight, thus avoiding' any inaccuracy in the weighing operatioi'i from such source.

The pivotal center 56 on which the member l-fl; is adapted to rock is located below the center oil: weight of such member whereby, when this member is brought to a position where its center of weight is at either side ol the vertical plane of the pivotal center, the top heaviness thereof will cause it to swing into one ot the two positions shown in Figs. 3 and The member let is swung automatically into the position shown in Fig. i., from the position shown in Fig. 5, by the impact of the falling column ot material acting on the upper side oit the wing- 541-, and it is swung from that position to the position shown in Fig'. 5 by an arm 62 fixed to one or both sides of the shutter 15 which strikes a projection Gll on the member 44: when the shutter moves from the dribble stream position to its fully closed position, this movement of the member tldumping the material which accumulates between it and the cooperating member l5 into the weigh hopper.

During the weighing operation, the compensating members t and 45 occupy substantially the position and relation shown in Figs. 3 and 4, in both of which positions these members are in the path ot the column or stream ot material falling from the supply hopper into the weigh. hopper, and the material accumulates in the pocket formed between them and overflows therefrom into the weigh hopper. The weight of the accumulated material and the impact produced by the falling column oi material act on the compensating members with a lorce tending to raise the counter-weight and to lower the weigh hopper, and this 'force acts with a greater mechanical advantage than if it acted on the weigh hopper, owing to the greater leverage of the compensating members as compared with the weigh hopper. .ln consequence, the shutter will close to cut olf the dribble stream at the moment the influence of the material accumulated between the compensating members and the impact of the tallino` material acting thereon, added to the weight of the weigh hopper and the bulk of the load of material, are able to poise the counterweight. Closing ot the shutter. dumps the accumulated material on the compensating members into the weigh hopper as part ot the load therein, and after discharge ot' the load 'lroni the weigh hopper, the compensator is restored automatically to the position shown in Fig. 3 by the falling stream ol material upon reopening of the shutter at the commencement oit the next subsequent weighing operation.

Compensation i'or the weight ot the column or stream oit material in the act of falling at the moment the weigh hopper comes to a poise is accomplished by the present invention, irrespective of the specific gravity of the material being weighed, and it is a-ffcomplisl'ied automatically without res rpiiring a special adjustment lor each kind ot material that may be handled. Also, the compensator .is seit-cleaning ol? material at the completion ot each weighing ol'icration and reqriires no manual manipulation by an attendant. rlhe present embmliment of the invention also has the advantage that the quantity ol material accumulated on the compensator is dumped into the weigh hopper to form a part o'l the weighed charge therein, upon the completion of the respective weighing operation.

According to the present invention, accuracy in the weighing of all charges is attfiined, irrespective ot' any variations that may occur in the rate of flow of the mat-erial into the weigh hopper during different .weighing operations, due to Variations in .sary-to make up the charge the mach-inc, yet allowing the use of a ldrib- Y ble stream which is not'too large for accuracy but is suiiiciently large to insure a certain and iree flow ofthe material and the usual amount of rubbish contained therein.` The i'unction of this Ydevice is` to arrest or retard the closing movement of the supply gate from the :tull'tlow to the dribble Stream position, thus prolonging the full flow period suiiciently to-reduce `the/time Iiecesweigh hopper.

, This device, as shown in Figs. 7, 8' and 9, .comprises a link one end of which is pivota'lly connected at G6 to the supplyy gate 15 and the opposite end of which is provided with a shoulder or notch 67 and an arm G8 extending rearwardly therefrom. A bracket 69 is fixed to one oi' `the sidesfoit the main iframe of the machine and has a bell-crank 70 pivoted thereto at 7l; The bell-crank has an upwardly projecting arm 7 2 provided with a roller 73 arranged 4to cooperate with the shoulder G7 the under side of the arm 68, and a weight 74 on the other arm or' the bell-crank acts to rock the arm 7 2 t-here-` of rearwardly.y The weight is adapted to rest upon the stop 75 when in its rlower' position,`and a set screw or other suitable adjustable stop 7 6 is provided to cooperate with the arm GS and thereby limit its downward movement.

When the supply gate l5 is in itsclosed position, the arm 68 of the link rests on the roller 73 of the bell-crank, the weight 7 4 being then in its lower position, as shown in Fig. 7. Opening of the' supply gate causes rearward movement orf the attached link 65 to a degree sufficient to carry the shoulder or notch y(37 thereof past the roller k73, the shoulder being thereby caused to engage behind tlie roller 7 2 by the weight of the link. As the gate closes, the link 65 is pulled forwardly, causing the weight V74 of the bellcrank to be lifted and, in consequence, the weight oil'ers a resistance to the closing movement of the gate from the full flow position to the dribble position. At a predetermined and permanently adjusted point in the forward movement of thek link 65, the arm 68 thereon comes down upon the stop '76, owing to the rocking of this end of the link about the pivot 71 as a center, and continued forward movement of the link incident to the movement of the supply gate toward dribble position causes the roller 73 to disengage from the shoulder or notch 67, the gate being then free to assumeits dribble position without interference by the weight. Upon such release of the bell-crank the weight 74 thereon drops upon th'e'stop 75. The retardor'y load in the 1 influence of the device extends' overonly a portion of the closing lmovement ofthe gate,y but it is -sui-iicient to materially 'retard its movement' during lthe full flow period, thus increasing the amount of material Vfed to the weigh hopper during the full ilow period.

From the diagram shown in Fig. l() it will be understood that theb'ase of the pyramidof material retained on the coperative niembers off thecompensator will varyin' diaineter in proportion to the size of the falling column or stream of material and that the-amount of material overiowingfroni the compensatorwwill yincrease or diminish. or decrease as the diameter of the base of the pyramid or' material increases ordiminishes,

owing 'to' theV tapered form of the overflow gaps@ .between `the surface b of the compensator member 55 and the curved edge c off the compensator member 54C. .F or VeX- Aample, with a relatively small pyramid of `material fr, the gaps athrough which the material overflows will be relatively small, while with a relatively larger pyramid y these overflow gaps present larger openings through which thematerial escapes. It willv also be understood-that the height of the pyramid of material retained on Athe compensator and, in consequence, the amount of such material, will increase or decrease according to anincrease or a decrease in the size or the falling stream. Hence, compensation is made automatically'for any variation in the rate of feed of the material to the weighing machine. y

.I claim as my invention l. ln a weighing machine having a weigh hopper and beam, and a supply hopper above the'weigli hopper having'means for controly ling the feed of material tothe weigh hopper,

a compensator for controlling the operation of saidfeed controlling means, said compensator beingadapted and arranged to receive and `retain thereon :LV-quantity of the material fed to the weigh hopper, means for causing the iniiuence of the material on the compensator to act as -a force tending to cause closing of the'teed controlling means, and means for dumping the retained material from the compensator into the weigh hopper when the feed thereto is cut off.

2. In a weighing machine having a weigh hopper and beam, a supply hopper above the weigh hopper for feeding material thereto, and means for rcontrolling the flow of material to the weigh hopper, a compensator located in the weigh hopper and inthe path of the column of material .flowing from the supply hopper to theweigh hopper to receive and retain a-volumeof the material Y thereon, means 'for' causingthe weightV of the compensator to act as a force tending to cause closing oi said valve means, and

means for automatically dumping the retained material from the compensator into the weigh hopper to make up a part of the charge therein upon completion of the weighing thereof.

4. In a weighing machine of the class embodying a weigh hopper and beam, and a supply hopper above the weigh hopper and having valve means governed by the weigh beam for controlling the fiow of material into the weigh hopper, a compensator adapted and arranged to receive and retain thereon a quantity of the material flowing from the supply hopper to the weigh hopper, means for transmitting the influence of the material on the compensator to the weigh beam, and means for dumping the retained material from the compensator into the weigh hopper upon the cutting off of the flow of material to the weigh hopper.

5. In a weighing machine of the class having a weigh hopper and beam, and a supply hopper having means governed by the movement of the weigh beam for controlling the flow of material to the weigh hopper, a compensator adapted and arranged to receive and retain thereon a quantity of the material flowing te the weigh hopper, means for transmitting the influence of the material on the compensator' to the weigh beam at a greater mechanical advantage than the action ol the weigh hopper thereon, and means :for dumping the retained material from the compensator into the weigh hopper to form part of the weighed charge therein.

(5. In a weighing machine of the class having a weigh hopper and beam, and a supply hopper above the weigh hopper and having means governed by the movements of the weigh beam for controlling the flow of material to the weigh hopper, a compensating device adapted and arranged to receive and retain thereon a quantity or' the material flowing to the weigh hopper, a compensating beam acted on by the compensating device and acting on. the weigh beam with a greater leverage than that of the weigh beam, and means for dumping the retained material from the compensating device into the weigh hopper to form part of the weighed charge therein.

7. In a weighing machine of the class having a weigh hopper and beam, and a supply hopper having means governed by the weigh beam for controlling the flow of material to the weigh hopper, a compensator adapted and arranged to receive and retain thereon a quantity ol' the material l lowing to the weigh hopper and acting on the .weigh beam in accordance with the inlluence ot the material on the compensator, the compensator being operative by said supply controlling means in closing to discharge the material retained thereon into the weigh hopper.

8. In a weighing machine of the class having a weigh hopper and beam, and aY supply hopper having means governed by the weigh beam for controlling the flow ot material to the weigh hopper, a compensator for the column of material in suspension at the moment oit' closing ot the supply controlling means comprising movably related members operatively connected to the weigh bea-m and located in the path olf the material flowing to the weigh hopper, said members being operative during the flow of material to form between them a pocket to receive and retain a quantity of such material, and relatively movable upon the cutting ofl: oi such flow to discharge such retained material into the weigh hopper.

9. In a weighing machine of the class described, a compensator for the column o'l material. in suspension at the moment of' cut-oil of the flow thereof to the weigh beam comprising a pair oil suspended pivotally related members operatively connected to the weigh beam and arranged in the path of the material flowing to the weigh hopper, said members being operative during the i'iow of' material to the weigh hopper to receive and retain thereon a quantity of such material, and relatively movable at the moment of cut-oill of such flow to discharge such retained material into the weighed charge in the weigh hopper.

l0. In a weighing machine ol the class embodying a weigh hopper and beam, and a supply hopper having a shutter governed by the weigh beam for controlling the flow oi material to the weigh hopper, a compensator for the column or" material in suspension at the moment of closing of said shutter, said compensator comprising a pair of pivotally connei'ted members arranged in the path ol flow of' material to the weigh hopper and operative during such flow to receive and retain a quantity o'f such material a con'ipensating beam arranged to act on the weigh b iam and from which the compensating members are suspended, and means operative by said 'shutter in closing to relatively move said compensator members to discharge the material retained thereby into the weigh hopper.

ll. In a weighing machine of the class dei compensator comprising a pair of members arranged in the path of flow of the material to the weigh hopper, one of said members being pivoted on an axis'below its center of weight whereby it will tend to swing yinto either of two positions, said members cooperating when the pivoted member is in one of said positions and during the How of material to the weigh hopper to receive and retain thereon a quantity of such material, and the pivoted member being movable, upon the cut-off of such flow, to an'opposite position to `discharge such retained material into the weigh hopper.

12. In a weighing machine of the class described, a compensator for the column of material in suspension at the moment of cut-off of the flow of material to the weigh hopper comprising movably related sections located in the path of such flow, one of said members being movable under the influence of the flowing material into cooperation with the other member whereby said members will receive and retain a quantity of such material, and also movable into another position when such flow is cut olf to discharge such retained material into ythe weigh hopper.

13. In a weighing machine having a weigh hopper and beam, and a 'supply hopper having valve means for controlling the flow of material into the weigh hopper, a compensator arranged to receive and retain thereon material flowing from the supply hopper into the weigh hopper, means for causing the influence of such material on the compensator to act as a force tending to depress the weigh hopper, and means for automatically dumping the retained material from the compensator upon cutting off of the How of material to the weigh hopper.

14. In a weighing machine having a weigh hopper'and beam, and a supply hopper having valve means governed by the weigh beam for controlling the flow of material into the weigh hopper, a compensator arranged to receive and retain thereon a quantity of material flowing from the supply hopper to the weigh hopper, means for transmitting the influence of the material on the compensator to the weigh beam, and means for automatically dumping the retained material from the compensator upon closing of said valve means.

V15. In a weighing machine of the class having a weigh hopper and beam, and a supply hopper having means governed by the weigh beam for controlling the flow of material to the weigh hopper, a compensator for the material falling into the weigh hopper at the moment of cut-olf of the flow of material thereto comprising movably related membersy arranged to exert a depressing-effeet-onvthe weigh beam and operative during theflowofl material to form between them a pocket to receive vand retain a quantity ofl material, and relatively movable upon the'eutting off of such'flow to discharge the retained material therefrom.` i

16. In a weighing" machine of the class described, a compensator for the column of material in suspension at the moment of cutoff of the flow of material to the weigh hopper comprising relatively movable members located 'in the path of a column of material flowing into the weigh hopper, said members being adapted in one relative position to retain thereon a quantity of such ymaterial and adapted when in another relative position to discharge such retained material.

17. In a weighing machine of the type having a weigh hopper and a feed gate controlling the flow of material thereto, means to compensate for the column of material falling into the weight hopper comprising members coperative to receive and retain thereon in the form of a pyramid a quantity of the falling column of material and forming between them openings at the base of such pyramid through which the material may overflow at a rate which increases as the diameter of the base of the pyramid increases.

18. In a weighing machine of the type having a weigh hopper and a feed gate controlling the flow of material thereto, means to compensate for'the column of material falling into the weigh hopper at the moment of closing of said gate comprising a pair of relatively movable members coperative in one position to retain thereon a quantity of the falling material in the form substantially of a pyramid and providing outwardly tapering gaps for the escape of suchr material, said members when relatively moved from said position dumping the retained material therefrom.

19. In a weighing machine of the type having a weigh hopper, a feed gate for controlling the flow of material to the weigh hopper, a mechanical means for controlling the closing of said gate during movement of the weigh hopper toward Vequipoise position, and a member operative by such movement of the weigh hopper to mechanically actuate said gate controlling means, said member being adjustable to vary the range of movement of the weigh `hopper before said member causes actuation of said gate controlling means.

2Q. In a weighing machine of the type having a weigh hopper, a feed gate for controlling the flow of material tothe weigh hopper, the combination of means includlng atrigger for causing automatic closing of said gate during movement of the weigh hopper toward equipoise position, and a stop member operative by said movement 0f the Weigh hopper to mechanically trip my hand inV presence of two Subscribing Saul trlgger and thereby cause closing of the Witnesses. gute, Saul stop member being' adjustable te 'T L Y T Vary the distance through which the weigh HILNRX LICHRDSOB' 5 hopper meres toward equipeise position hellffiinesses:

fore Suid trigger is tripped. S. MURRAY,

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set E. F. VHITE. 

